Congratulations to our Parramatta Eels. Providing such a thoroughly enjoyable victory for their supporters was an outstanding way to conclude what had otherwise been a rather forgettable week.
The Dylan Brown situation requires no comment from me until the case is heard in court. Whatever the outcome, I hope lessons are learnt
But whilst the Eels put a smile on my face this King’s Birthday Weekend, the NRL continues their success in making the premiership a frustrating experience for many supporters.
I’ve written numerous times about particular inequities and inconsistencies. And we continue to see officiating, particularly from the bunker, that simply does not meet the standards that should reasonably be expected.
But, this week I’d argue that the NRL should have stood up for the Eels and the game.
All clubs should be important to the NRL, and a club like the Eels is located in rugby league heartland. Personally motivated attacks on the Eels or on any club should be seen as an attack on the game.
Eels supporters don’t ask for or expect special treatment, but surely a line was crossed by a particular shock jock last week.
Brad Arthur is constantly targeted by this media identity
An on-air attack became personal. There was name-calling, a cheap racial gag about a surname was thrown, and serious insinuations were made about the conduct within the club.
Furthermore, there was a statement by this media identity that approaches by the Eels to radio station management would not stop him from continuing his campaign. He used the term “squealing” to describe those approaches.
Whether the Eels seek to deal with this attack through the courts is entirely their decision. However, given the deeply personal comments made and the insinuations contained within, shouldn’t the NRL have stepped in and spoken to station management?
Perhaps they have. Supporters aren’t privy to such conversations or correspondence. Then again, maybe we should be informed when the controlling body stands by one of their clubs.
What we do know is that the NRL would be aware of the personal attack on one of their clubs and their staff. There must come a point where the NRL instructs a media organisation who is crossing the line to pull their head in. Forget keeping media organisations or shock jocks appeased. First and foremost, the NRL represents the clubs and the fans.
Thankfully, Eels fans recognise that the relentless rants from an individual with a huge platform are borne out of a personal disdain for the coach and administration of the Club.
At the game on Monday, a fellow supporter put it into a new perspective for me. He rightly pointed out that while there might be one or two who want to burn down our club, the fans are ready with the hoses to put out the predictable fire. And each year members turn up to vote so that our club remains strong.
It doesn’t matter how much hatred is screamed into a big microphone. The volume and the frequency of the rants won’t count for a thing. Eels supporters and other media can recognise personal agendas.
Ultimately, the most satisfying way of responding to attacks on the club is for the players to get results on the field.
The key to Monday’s performance was the maturity on display.
After the first 15 minutes I feared what I was watching. The Eels were playing hot potato football and not playing to their strengths.
Then Moses, Junior, RCG and Gutho stepped up and straightened up the attack. The team played Parra footy, winning the middle and driving behind the ruck. What do you know, the predictable gaps appeared.
The players stood strong
Line breaks saw multiple players loom in support. That second 20 minutes in the first half was Parra football at its best.
Then, when the Bulldogs tossed the ball around aimlessly as they tried to stay in the game, the Eels stayed In their defensive systems and slid really well. There was none of the drifting away from the processes that featured earlier in the season.
This week will present possibly the Eels biggest challenge of the season. Three spine players are absent. Key forwards remain watching from the sidelines.
But whether it’s in the face of personal insults delivered by a media identity, or challenges on the field, the resilience in this team is getting stronger.
And what a source of frustration that must be for you know who!
Shelley
Great article again Shelley. We Eels members take no notice of people trying to put us down, we’re used to it.
Standard practise eh!
Shelley, well articulated. On the media person slinging personal insults against the Eels club is that, yes, the NRL is derelict in its duty if it does nothing about it. I just want to also add that NRL360 panel members (some doubling as print journos) have been throwing darts (ad nauseum, since last year’s GF) at Parra on their retention/recruitment. Every week we heard attacks on Parra management about losing Mahoney and Papali’i, (and others). Let’s take stock. How are they and their clubs going? What about the Eels recruitment/retention of Hands, Asi, Ogden, Doorey, Simonsson, Greig. Don’t hold your breath for any plaudits for Parra coming from these media ‘experts’.
Fair call on how those respective players are travelling. I’ll give some kudos to the Eels coaches too.
Very well said Shelley – this bloke is a try hard bully and rode on the coat tails of another bloke who gave him listeners for years. He then made comments abt the same person when he left the station. He’s a history of this type of behaviour and could be described in words similar to what a Canberra coach did use last season.